News and Events

Lady of Fifty Takes Oak Tree’s Bayakoa

From Hollywood Park PublicityINGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2012) -- In the Grade II Bayakoa, which was presented by the Oak Tree Racing Association, Lady of Fifty overcame some early trouble to win decisively under jockey Martin Garcia.

Owned by George Todaro and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 3-year-old daughter of After Market prevailed by 3 ¼ lengths over 10-1 shot Open Water. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track was 1:44.36.

Out of the Maria’s Mon mare K.D.’s Shady Lady, Lady of Fifty won for the sixth time in 11 starts. The $110,000 payday increased her earnings to $320,000.

In winning for the fourth time in seven starts over a synthetic surface, Lady of Fifty, the 3-1 third choice in the field of eight, paid $8.80, $5.60 and $3.60.

Shuffled back in the opening two furlongs, Lady of Fifty found clear sailing on the outside in the stretch, gained the lead with about an eighth of a mile to run and drew away in her Betfair Hollywood Park debut.

“I wanted to take the lead, but those other horses, they kept sending and sending,’’ said Garcia, who also won the 2011 Bayakoa with Ellafitz. “I let them all go and when I finally moved out, she relaxed.

“I just kept her on the outside because I didn’t want to get into any more trouble. When I asked her to go, she just exploded. She was much the best.’’

The win was the second in three years for Hollendorfer in the Bayakoa. “She’s gotten bigger and stronger and has been training real well,’’ said the trainer, who won with another 3-year-old (Washington Bridge) in 2010. “We’re very proud of her and very pleased with the way she’s doing right now.

“Backing out of there early may have been the thing that made her win because the pace got a little rapid out front. She recovered nicely and didn’t nick herself up. We feel very fortunate for that. I don’t have a race picked out yet, but we’ll find something.’’

Returning to Cushion Track after four consecutive appearances on turf, Open Water was up to defeat 5-2 favorite Inglorious by a half-length. She paid $10.60 and $6.40. The show price on Inglorious was $3.20.

Trainer Josie Carroll thought Inglorious, the 2011 Queen’s Plate winner and 3-year-old filly champion in her native Canada, ran well in her first start since July 8. “I thought she ran a tremendous race,’’ she said. “She just got a little tired.’’

Completing the order of finish were Charm the Maker, the 5-2 second choice, who finished a half-length behind Inglorious, pacesetter Changethechannel, Willa B Awesome, Class Included and Madera Castana.

Racing will resume Sunday. Post time is 12:30 p.m. Track gates will open at 10 a.m. for simulcasts.

The main event is the inaugural running of the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for 2-year-old fillies bred or sired in California. Scheduled for seven furlongs over Cushion Track, the Soviet Problem is part of the Golden State series. It is the ninth of 10 races.

The final race at Betfair Hollywood Park also begins the “405 Double.’’ The $2 minimum wager requires a bettor to pick the winners of the last local race and the first at Los Alamitos. The 405 Double will be offered next Sunday, the final day of the Autumn meet.